Toughts on Creatr HS; Other options?

[Alexandre_Firlo]

I am an owner of a Makerbot Replicator 2. It is a really nice machine but I need something faster.
I’ve made a lot of researches to find something as good in quality but faster.
The best i’ve found until now is the Leapfrog Creatr HS
With :
Build platform (dual extruder) : 29x24x18 cm
Print speed : 30-300mm/s (in comparison to 90mm/s with the replicator 2)
note: I’ve heard that it can keep good quality at 200mm/s
Minimum layer resolution: 20 microns
Price: 1990€ (roughly 2635$CAD) (Yes i’m Canadian)

Speed and quality are my biggest concerns!
What’s your toughts on this printer? Have you heard stories about it? Would there be any other option?

Thanks,
Alex

[3Dscaleworks]

Hi Alex,

The Leapfrog Creatr HS is a next generation printer from Leapfrog which preforms well and fast.

The quality of the extruder motor has improved as wel as the whole design if you compare it to the Creatr

You can expect a good support through internet or your supplier in Canada.

Speed and quality you will have to get a grid on, just as you did with your first print.

Only now you are much experienced and you will get the hang of it fast.

lots of succes

[MB3D]

Hi Alexandre, I have a Creatr HS if you want to have a talk about it contact me via Skype Nickname: “railes123” Giving a review that covers all your concerns would be too much in text form. It would be easier to answer specific questions verbally. Cheers, Marius

[Fabbdea]

I’ve got it since 2 mounts already done 170h and is working fine.there is few small issues which are not effecting printing and support is on it now.

Last night I have been printing 330Lg parts can send you link to movies tonight.

when I chose it there was my few points which printer need have:

1.75mm filament (there is no 3mm available so you can’t use your makerbot filament)

big print bed I have done 330mm long parts

speed - it is much faster then my old prusa i2

stand alone printer.

and of course 2 print heads don’t know this one yet as haven’t got time to test it

let me know if you need more info.

Adam

[dramaprint]

We own one for 6months now, build is solid, it’s fast and reliable with few bugs in software but nothing major

[PDX3DS]

I own the Creatr Original. Its a great machine, but since you live in North America, be ready to never take advantage of your warranty if you value your time at all due to the extremely costly and time consuming shipping to and from Leapfrog. It is extremely easy to service, I have only had to replace a few screws and 2 fans (It runs A LOT). I have put probably 20 kg in mine and I can regularly print at about 40-60 mm/s depending on layer height and overhangs. The best thing about the creatr is the build volume, by far. Not having to cut up parts is a god send. I can’t attest to the speed of the machine since I have the original. The only caveat, and it is a fairly large one, is the original Creatr’s Feed Drive. Its shit, period. The hobbed Gear is too far from the hot end tube and filament jams quite a bit if you are trying to overextrude (on accident, or on purpose for strength), to compensate I turn up temps and lower my flow rate slightly and I haven’t had issues since. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

[Wupsje]

Hi, The Creatr HS is a great machine, it is very fast and accurate. Although it is not perfect (like all FDM printers) it has a super huge buildplatform and that’s the main feature why I think it is so great. Also the extruders are great, once the printer starts running it will never stop and you can make huge prints without it failing. I’ve printed some nice 1:1 scale heads like terminator, Ironman, robocop.

[llumen]

I have one here at home. I decided to go for the HS because of its standard dual extruder head and, like you, for its speed. Like all 3D printers it’s a bit of a getting to know the machine but I had it under control quite quickly. It prints fast but not tremendously fast. It’s slightly faster than running an ultimaker at high speed with (in my opnion) a bit better quality than pushing an ultimaker to its limits. One thing you do need to be aware of that the HS, while very sturdly build, is way more noisy than an ultimaker or makerbot.

To me if it’s just for speed pushing an ultimaker may give you a better deal, if you go for the original, but Leapfrog learned a lot from their mistakes (try to find a good review of the original creatr) and made a very solid printer with the creatr HS

[Fabbdea]

LCHS it’s quite nosie thats true but you can aways make some anti noise cover using box its deliver in

[Cat3dprint]

Hi i ve got the creatr hs since 6 months. And yes there is some little bugs but when it s working it s working so fine. I ve got some very good prints. On the other side i ve got some problem with extructers i have to change them a lot. Does anyone find a way to buy some new at a reasonnable price? other problem the noise.

[3Dscaleworks]

You mean the extruder nozzles?

[Cat3dprint]

Hi, yes the hot end. the nozzle stay fine but it always block. i think i have to put more retraction.

[3Dscaleworks]

what filament do you use and do you Always do test extrusions on different temp levels?

[Cat3dprint]

I m using pla white esun. I had some issues with black. I tried different temp levels. At a point it block for no reason.

[MB3D]

The blocking is most likely caused by the teflon tube in the hotend.

At some point the heat might migrate trough the material (in this case PLA) and it seeems like hot PLA can stick to the teflon tube to clogg the hot end.

I’ve had barely any problem with PLA, however material blends, like WoodFill and CopperFill caused this problem.

My current attempt on solving this is by installing the e3d chimera dual extrusion hotend. It has no Teflon in the hot part of the extruder, which causes a lot less cloggs, hopefully clogg free printing.

Beside that e3d has a wide range of nozzle sizes, from 0,25mm to 0,8mm, whereas leapfrog only sells 0,35 and 0,5mm.

the e3d nozzles have a flat bottom, which benefits smoother top layers, also e3d sells stainless steel nozzles, which are needed to get 100% food safe prints (brass nozzles contain lead, that might get into the printed object). Stainless steel nozzles are also necessary to print carbon fibre materials reliably, the fibres are abbrasive and will widen the brass nozzles, this doesn’t happen with steel ones.

[Cat3dprint]

Thank you Pomaer for your answer. Is it possible to put chimera on the creatr HS? I don t see how to put it and replace actual extruders.